The Disolate Scion

Dislike

The two of them arrived at the playground, and Zak took a seat on the steps in front of Juelz.

Coming to a stop, Juelz lowered his gaze and began, "You know, I don't actually dislike you that much. It's just that you resemble me so closely that being around you feels like encountering a mirror image."

Zak was taken aback by this sudden turn towards emotion. He stood up and met Juelz's gaze, saying, "I understand."

Raising his hand, he slowly moved it closer to Juelz's face.

This sudden gesture made Juelz furrow his brow, his eyes showing resistance. As he instinctively tried to step back, Zak interrupted, "Wait a second, big brother, there's a bug on your face."

Juelz, who had an intense fear of insects, instantly froze, his eyes wide open as he watched Zak's finger make contact with his face, gently flicking something away.

"My mistake; it was just a mosquito," Zak retracted his hand, chuckling softly. "But don't worry, I've already taken care of it."

Seeing the smile on Zak's lips, Juelz's unease deepened.

Not far off, Matthias, who had been following them, pulled out his phone and aimed it at the two of them, zooming in for a closer look.

Both were dressed in identical school uniforms.

The one on the left, with a slight downward gaze and a friendly smile, lacked a mole on his face and had a center-parted hairstyle, matching Juelz.

The one on the right had a mole on his face and a center-parted hairstyle, but his expression seemed less amiable, confirming him as the beleaguered Zak.

With this realization, Matthias removed his school uniform and signaled to the person behind him.

"Capture the one on the right, use the uniform to conceal him, and make sure he can't call for help."

Several boys began to stealthily approach.

Juelz, feeling somewhat repulsed, touched the spot where Zak's hand had been, only to suddenly notice the young man before him wearing a different smile. It was a smile unlike his usual one, causing Juelz to furrow his brow. "What's so amusing?"

"I'm smiling because, from this moment on, big brother, you're about to embark on a rather unforgettable experience," Zak said, leaning in slightly to study Juelz. His lips curled upward, carrying a trace of mischief and malice. "Here it comes."

Before Juelz could fully grasp the meaning of those words, everything suddenly went black, and his head was tightly covered by something.

He found himself unable to resist as an invisible force propelled him forward.

Before him, an abyss of darkness engulfed Juelz, filling him with dread and stifling him. He screamed desperately, yet his voice emerged as a muffled cry, while the surrounding voices remained audibly clear.

"Make sure he doesn't end up dead. Also, he might try to impersonate me instead of Zak. Be cautious, don't be deceived. He's quite the accomplished liar," Zak cautioned.

As they moved further away, Matthias pondered the striking resemblance between the two, their identities nearly indistinguishable. Observing Juelz's resistance, Matthias adjusted his school uniform and issued a warning, "Stop struggling and walk with us."

Walk with them? Did that mean he would face a beating?

Juelz intensified his struggles, exclaiming, "I'm not Zak."

Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears, with onlookers assuming it was mere profanity. Someone even took the opportunity to deliver a kick.

While the physical pain was tolerable, the humiliation was unbearable. Juelz clenched his fists, and his resentment toward Zak deepened with each passing thought.

Watching them depart, Zak's smile vanished. He wiped away the foundation concealing his mole, resuming a neutral demeanor as he made his way to the classroom.

He needed to summon help for his beloved brother, for what lay ahead would leave an indelible mark on his memory.

Throughout the ordeal, Juelz held onto hope that someone would recognize his true identity, but alas, no one did. It wasn't until a group of boys dragged him into the restroom and removed his school uniform that their mistake became apparent.

Juelz was drenched in sweat, his face flushed from the oppressive darkness. Upon being released, he immediately struck one of the boys beside him without hesitation.

"Couldn't you tell you had the wrong person? I'm Juelz, not Zak. Are all of you blind?" he shouted.

Matthias, standing nearby, delivered a resounding slap and sneered, "You think you can fool me with such a simple trick?"

Juelz's head buzzed from the blow, disorienting him.

What in the world was happening? Zak should have been the one enduring this beating, not him.

In that moment, he abruptly recalled why he had sensed something was off with Zak earlier. He attempted to voice his thoughts but was forcefully pushed down and subjected to further kicks.

"..." Juelz muttered curses under his breath, but the torrent of punches and kicks rendered him mute.